Water heater



Oct. 7 1924. 1,511,056

J. E. ERCANBRACK WATER HEATER Filed Nov. 10, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet l r y Igg wm Oct. 7 1924. 1,511,055

' J. E. ERCANBRACK WATER HEATER Filed NOV- 10 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 J.E; ERCANBRACK WATER HEATER 71 Filed Nov. 10', 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 4Patented Oct. 7, 1924.

UNITED STATES JOHN EDWARD ERCANBRACK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

WATER HEATER.

Application filed November 10, 1922. Serial No. 800,180.

To all whom it may concern:

A Be it known that 1, JOHN EDWARD ERCAN- BRACK, a citizenof the UnitedStates, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and 5 State ofIllinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a Water Heater,of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to water heaters, and more particularly tothe type 1 known as auxiliar submerged heaters that are submerged 1n thehot water either within the boiler or 'in a chamber outside the boilerthrough which the water of the boiler is circulated.

Among the divers objects of m invention are the provisionof a. heater othis character that is easy to install and which may be readilycontrolled. Also, it is'an object of my invention to provide a structureof 2 this kind that may be regulated, especially when two or more unitsare installed in the same heatin apparatus. It is also an ob- ?fect ofmy invention to provide means for the ready assembly of the parts of theunit so that they may be easily adjusted and for the purpose of beingable to remove the parts w en it is desired to repair or clean the same.I also provide-suitable means for checking a reverse circulation, andsimple devices for supporting the inlet tube and coupling the same tothe housing or head. Many other objects will be apparent to personsskilled in this art, and I prefer to carry out the divers objects insubstantially the following manner. Reference will now be made to theaccompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a schematic view showing thefront of a boiler and a storage tank with two of my heating unitsinstalled therein, one being a single unit and the other a twin unit.

Fig. 2 is a vertical central section on line 2-2, Fig.1, looking in thedirection of the arrows and drawn to an enlarged scale. I

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on irregular line 3-3, Fig. .2, the viewbeing taken through the two units.

Fig 4 is a transverse section on line as, Fig. 2, showing, on enlargedscale, one method of supporting the inner tube.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified construction ofthe unit casing,

the connecting of the inner tube and the method of supporting thelatter.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view 6-6, Fig. 5. v

Fig. 7 is a horizontal fragmental section on line 7-7, Fig. 6, showing amodified coupling or elbow.

Fig. 8 is a transverse section on line 8-8, Fig. 5, showing a modifiedmethod of supporting the inner tube.

ig. 9 is a vertical section on line 9-9, Fig. 6, illustrating the detailof the return pipe bafile.

i 10 is aside elevation of the coupling or elbow shown in Figs. 5, 6 and7.

Fig. 11 is a vertical longitudinal section, similar to Figs. 2 and 5,and illustrating a on line further modification of the structure where--in the control valve is positioned in axial alinement with the innertube and the separate coupling is replaced by a flange.

Fig. 12 is a similar view-of another modification illustrating anotherform'of mounting the structure in the boiler or chamber containing theWater from which heat is radiated.

Fig. 13 is a vertical section on line 13-13,

ig. 14: is a vertical section, s1m1 lar to Fig. 13, showing a modifiedcoupling in which two of the inner tubes are united by "a Siamesecoupling or elbow.

Fig. 15 is a vertical longitudinal section of a further modifiedconstruction, wherein the central tube is formed of two bent metalsheets and the inner valve is of the butterfly type.

Fig. 16 is a vertical section on line 16-16, Fig. 15, illustratingcertain details thereof.

Fig. 17 is a vertical transverse section on an enlarged scale, taken online 17-17, Fi 15.

Figs. 18 and 19 are, respectively, an outer end view and a sideelevation of the modified coupling or elbow employed in the modificationillustrated in Figs. 15 and 16. Fig. 20 is a side elevation or plan ofthe butterfly valve shown in Figs. 15 and 16.

So far as possible similar reference characters havebeen employed todesignate like parts wherever they occur throughout the several views,and by referring to Fig. 1 it will be seen the structure is a typicalinstallation of the preferred type of heater shown in detail in'F'igs. 3and 4, and installed upon the front of a boiler furnace so that theheating tubes may be submerged in the water within the boiler, and theheated water may be held in a storage tank adjacent thereto. It will beunderstood, how ever, that the heating tubes may be inserted through thewall of a suitable casing or container and submerged in watercirculating from the boiler or heater. In either event the structure issubstantially the same.

In Fig. 1, A indicates the front of a boiler furnace and B the storagetank in which the hot water is stored by means of circulating C, c andc. The cold water in the lower portionof' the storage tank circulates tothe heaters through the return pipe F. After being heated it passesthrou h feed branches 0 and c and main feed to the upper portion of thetank. The cold water supply to the hot water storage tank enters throughfeed pipe E to the bottom portion through an extension of pipe E or bydirect connection at the bottom, and 'the heated water being in theupper part of the tank passes out to the hot water outlets or faucetsthrough dischar e pipe E. To secure an even delivery 0% hot Water at theoutlet fixtures in the building the water is circulatd through the hotwater service mains and branches b means for the supply return pigehl)an its branches.

e structure for heating the water, which is submerged in the hot waterof theheating boiler comprises a casing 1 that passes through the wallof the hot water container either the boiler or a chamber connectedtherewith, and is maintained in position by means of an annulus 2 that"is secured to wall :1: of the'boiler or chamber b means of bolts 3, andthe opening is ma e water proof by means of a gasket 4 at the innerportion of annulus 2, and, as seen in Fig. 2 of the drawin the bore inthe annulus is tapered inwar y, as at 5, to permit of a slightswivelling of easing 1. Y The inner end of easing 1 is closed by a plug6 screwed, welded, or otherwise secured therein, and having a lateralstub 7 that projects through an aperture in a supporting wall 3 to bemaintained therein by means of a cotter pin,

-or the like. Mounted within casing 1 is an inner tube 8 which may besectional, as shown in Fig. 2, or a continuous piece of tubing, as showninthe remaini figures of the drawings. This tube is not as ong. ascasing 1 so that it terminates short ofthe inner end thereof and is openso as to discharge water into the casing. The tube 8 is supported bymeans of a suitable spider 9 at the end thereof and, when made insections, a wider spider 9 may' be employed so as-to receive ends of anadj acent section and connect them of the space between the tube and theinner wall of the casing so as to restrict the capacity thereof, and inorder to avoid retardation of the circulation I provide dischargeapertures 10 adjacent these spiders through which'the return water maydischarge be- 7 fore reaching the end of the tube.

The head or device to which the outer ends of the casing and the tubeare connected preferably comprises a hollow casing or housing 11 havinga stub in its upper por tion that is bored and threaded to receive g1:vertically disposed discharge pipe 0. portion of the housin divides thesame into two chambers 14 an ,15, into one (14) z of which the returnwater from'th'e tank and system is discharged, and from it passes intoirregular shaped part 13 in the upper' a coupling and into tube8 whereit becomes line, the inlet end portion of which is ground spherical tofit the spherical seat upon the under portion of the opening in wall 13.The outlet ortion of this elbow is. threaded to receive t e adjacentthreaded end of tube 8. A lug 18 is formed horizontally upon the elbowand is provided with a threaded aperture into -wh1ch a bolt 19 isscrewed so that its extended end will abut the bottom of chamber 16 andwhen said bolt has been sufficiently rotated it will elevate the elbow,until its spherical end portion has been fitted into the spherical seatabove mentioned. A clean out opening is formed in housing 11 intochamber 15, preferably in alinement with the axis of tube 8 and isclosed by a suitable plug 20 which maybe removed to permit access to behad to adjust bolt 19, or for the purpose. of removing the elbow andtube. I v

It frequently'becomes necessary or desirable, when two or more units areinstalled in a boiler or hot. water tank, to shut ofl? one of the Supplor return pipes, and in order to do this h in the upper ortion ofhousing 11 into chamber 14. mushroom valve 21, alinin'g with thecountersunk seat in aperture 16, is

ave provided a threaded aperture internally threaded so that theexterior threads will be engaged with the threads in.

the aperture and the interior threads will be together. The pider: 9 or9? pccupies some engaged with the threaded spindle or stem 30 23 ofvalve 21. The upper ends of the sleeve and'the valve stem are,respectively, provided with transverse slots to receive a screw driver,or similar tool, for the purpose of making adjustment, and, as seen inFig. 2, the threaded aperture in which parts are mounted is closed bymeans of a threaded plug 24 that may be removed for the purpose ofmaking adjustment and which when screwed in position will avoid leakage.When it is desired to cut off one of the return pipes, plug'24visremoved and the valve a 'uste lVhen an installation of the typeillustrated in Fig. 3 or any number of units is made, the hot water iscirculated from the top of the tank B to near the outlets or fancetsthrough pipes E andD with their extensions and connecting branches. Whena considerable number of outlets or faucets are 0 ened, at any one timethe hot water pipe from the top of the tank will not ordinarily supplythe full amount of water to supply the faucets and the down flow in suppy return pipe D is reversed; thus drawing cold water from the bottom'ofthe tank through pipe F and chamber 14 of the housing to points incirculating supply s stem where it mixes with the hot, water rawnthrough pipe E at some of-the supply outlets. Thls reverse flow of wateris cold and naturally reduces the temperature of the warmer waterdelivered from distributing pipe E which is objectionable. In order toavoid this, 1 have interposed a float ball valve between the unithousingand the system return pipe D. This is shown in detail in Fig. 3 andcomprises a "nion 25 interiorly'threaded at one end to r ceive returnpipe D, and exteriorly threaded at its opposite end to screw into asuitable threaded opening into a" unit casing or housing. -A

seat 26 is made in the bore of the union, and

fitted into the end of the union next housing 11 is a cage 27 thatoomprisesa sleeve with ide ribs, the ends of which ribs are providedwith soft metal dproj ections 28 that are adapted to be turneinwardly after float ositioned therein. I prefer to employa oat ball sothat it will rise and ride uponthe upper surface or ribs of the cagewhen moving from its seat 26 toward the extensions ctr projections 28;

The structure at the right side of Fig.3 is

'a detail of'the twin housing employed in association with the unitstructure at the .left

of said figure, all of the detailsbeing similar to those heretoforedescribed in connection 'not be course being understood that the floatball with the unit illustrated in longitudinal section at the left ofsaid figure so that it need specifically described herein, it of valveis omitted in all units, excepting the one receiving the supply fromreturn ipe D) In Fig. 5 of the drawmgsJ have s owna slightly modifiedconstruction wherein the dividing wall 30 of the housing 31 is in thelower portion thereof, and the return water flows into the lower chamber32 and the heated water flows out of the upper chamber 33. The valvestructure is the same as in the preceding sections, and the couplingelement is enclosed upon its seat by means of bolt 19 abutting againstthe upper wall of the housing instead of the lower wall, as shown inFig. 2. The coupling element, however, is slightly difl'erent in thatthe same comprises a tubular portion 34 having a vertical axis, and theupper portion is open, as seen in Fig. 10 of the drawings, to provide asaddle '34 so that tube 8 may be positioned therein and be brazed orwelded in the concaved seat. The adjacent end of the tube abuttin thevertical portion 34 of the coupling and said tube is provided with acutout portion 36 that alines with-the vertical tubular portion of thecoupling. The coupling is mounted in a reverse manner to that shown inFig. 2, and the end of tube 8 is provided with right angled slots sothat the metal between the slots may be bent outwardly to provide feet9", 9", to support the inner end of the tube. In lieu of the float ballvalve illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, when suitable check valvesare installed in circulating branches between the hot water supply pipeE and supply return pi e D to prevent re- (l in order toprevent currentsmeeting, I have provided a bafile device Ipositioned in union 25 betweenreturn pipe and housing 31 which baflie comprises a holder in the formof a sleeve 35' having laterally bent ends that project into. chamber32, and a pair of oppositely dis-- posed disks 36 are mounted uponopposite 1 sides of the laterally bent ends by means of a v clampingscrew 37 so that the water g llowing through pipe I) and union 25 wipass around theperipheryof baflie disks 36 In Fig. 12 of the drawingsthe unit in the form of housing 11 and all of the parts con,-

tained therein are exactly similar to thestructure illustrated in Figs.2 and 3 of the drawings. The'tubeS has its inner end provided withrecesscs38 andthemetal between the recesses is curved or curledoutwardly to provide feet 39 that engagethe inner surface of the casing.In this instance the casing is a drawn metal tube LO-having its inner enhemi-sphericaland having its outer end provided with an annular lip 41.A flange collar 42 is screwed, into the opening wall and the/ body ofthis collar 42 is sufficientto receive the outer end portion of casing40 with flange 41 overlying the outersurface of the flange of thecollar. An element l3of tubular shape is threaded at its outer end intohousing 11 and has an annular flange 44 fitted substantially against theflange of ca ing and concentric with the flange oncollar 42. Boltsconnect these two flanges so that flange 41 of the casing is firmly heldWithl an embossment 49 that is bored and surrounds casing 1, and a glandnut 50 is screwed into the stufiing box provided by the said embossmentto compress the packing or other material 51 positioned therein, all ofwhich structure prevents the leakage of the Water contained within wallat. In this modification the inner end of inner tube 8 is supported bymeans of lateral studs or rivets 52 that are of conical shape so as torest against the inneflsurface of the casing 1. The outer surface ofcasin 1"has the housin 53 mounted thereon am? which is of cylindricalshape and disposed concentric with the axis of easing 1 and inner tube.8. A partition wall 54 divides the interior of the housing into aforward chamber 55 and a rear chamber. 56, the. latter of which is incommunication with the outlet or. distributing pipe 0. Ihe inner tube 8is screwed into an internally threaded flange 57 that has its edge coneshaped to fit a correspondingly shaped aperture in the artition wall inwhich it is secured b a 150 t or screw 57 the headof which over ies thesurface of both flange 57 and partition 54- The outer portion of theopening-in flange 57 is countersunk, as at 58, to provide .a seat forvalve 21 which is of the construction heretofore described in connectionwith the prweding.

figures, and which is disposed in axial alinement with the inner tube 8.The dimension of the aperture in partition '54 is equal to rthe internaldimension of casing 1 to permit access thereto. For conveniencein'mountmg, the valve is positioned in a plu .59 in the .outer end ofhousing 53 so that t e entire valve structure may be removed by removingplug 59 and the inner tube and flange may also be 'taken outltherethrough. The inlet vinall'r port60 for the return water from thesystem, which is received through pipe D is lateral to the valve andinner tube 8.

In Figs. l3 and 14, I have illustrated a slightly modified twin orSiamese housing, espects similar to that shown at the right hand of Fig.3, with the exception that instead-of havin the inner tubes receivingthe water from w ich the upper chamber 15 through separate couplings orelbows, I'have provided a Y or three way coupling 61 havin tw o arallelbranches 62 that are connect suite 1e to the outer ends of parallelinner S S- tem, I have provided avent passage 8Q hetubes 8 and with asingle inlet stub 63, havrecess surrounding a communicating aperture 16between the upper and lower chambers of the housing. This dispenses withthe necessity of using two control valves 21, and, as seen, a singlevalve is all that is required.

In Figs. 15 to 20, I have illustrated a structure wherein the innermember of the heater in the form of a tube or circular cross-section isdispensed with,'and in lieu thereof I have positioned in casing 1 a.pair of opposed sheets of metal 64 formed angular in a longitudinal lineand. positioned within the casing so as to provide a conduit of diamondshape in crosssection. The height of the structure is exactly sufiieientto be positioned, as shown in Figs. 15 and 17, with the major axisvertical. The outer end of casing 1 is screwed into a housing .65 havingupper and lower chambers as in the other forms of my invention, to theupper chamber of which is connected the distributing or outlet pipe 0with the lower chamber of which is connected return pipe F and supplyreturn D. An irregular shaped hol low plug 66 is positioned in anopening alining Wit casing 1, and has an invented V- shaped arch 67extending from its inner face to receive the adjacent ends of strips 64,which are brazed or welded therein against the inner surface of thearch. This permits the lower portions of strips. 64 within said arch tobe cut away, as at 68, so that the cut away portion will register with apassageway 69 in communication with the lower is controlled by autterfly valve 70, in the manner shown in Figs. 15 and 16. In thisconstruction housin 65 is provided with an attachment flange 1, throughwhich bolts 72 are passed into the wall for the purpose of securing thestructure in position. The return or feed water passes from the lowerchamber of housing 65 through the passageway 69 and the cutout portion68 of the diamond shaped inner element and flows to the rear thereof,where it passes around the end of saidelement to the chamber between thesame and the casing 1 and then flows outwardly into the upper chamber ofhousin 65 and is distributed in the system box arrangement 75. atitsouter end to prevent leakage. V

In order to relieve the housing of air that might otherwise accumulatetherein and check the flow of water through the chamber of the housinwhich passageway I 1,511,050 a I A tween chambers 14 and in thehousing-ye tihreade'd' aperture opposite the aperture in in Figs. 2, 11and 12 the vent is shown saidpartition, a, sleeve threaded interiorlythrough the dividing or partition wall, and and exteriorly and screwedinto said hous in Figs. 5, 15 and 16 the same 18 through ing a erture,and a valve adapted to be g 5 the inner tube or coupling, or both. seatein the partition aperture and having What I claimisza threaded stemscrewed into said sleeve a 1. A water heater comprising inner andwhereby to adjust said valve. outer conduit members adapted to besub- 1. A water heater comprising innerand merged in a body of hotwater, a housing outer conduit members adapted to be sub- 10 withinwhich the outer ends of said 'conmerged in a body of hot water, ahousing duit members terminate, an apertured partiwithin which the outerends of said conduit tion within said housing dividing the same membersterminate, an apertured partition into two chambers into one of whichthe integrally formed with said housing dividouter conduit memberdischarges, an elbow ing the same into two chambers, into one of 15within said last mentioned chamber and which the conduit memberdischarges, a conconnected. to the adjacent end of saidinner nectionelement within said last-mentioned conduit member, the opposite end ofsaid chamber and connected to the adjacent end elbow engaging saidpartition at the aperof said inner conduit member, the opposite turetherein, and a threaded divice carried end of said element engaging saidpartition by said elbow and engaged with said housat the aperturetherein, and threaded means ing whereby said elbow 1s maintained in enenaged with the housin structure and gagement with said partition. saidconnection element w ereby the latter 7 2. A water heater comprisininner and is maintained in engagement with said partiouter conduitmembers adapte to be sub tion.

25 merged in a body of hot water, a housing 5. A water heater comprisinginner and within which the outer ends of said conduit outer conduitmembers adapted to be sub- 7 members terminate, an apertured partitionmerged in a body of hot water, a housing within said housing dividingthe same into -\within which the outer ends of said conduit two chambersintoone of which the outer members terminate, an apertured partition v30conduit member discharges, an elbow within integrally formed with saidhousing dividsaid-last mentioned chamber and connected ing the same intotwo chambers into one I to the adjacent end of said inner conduit ofwhich the outer conduit member dismember,-the opposite end of said elbowencharges, a connection element within said ga ing said partition at theaperture therein, last-mentioned chamber and connected t3 35 a t readeddevice carried by'said'elbow and the. adjacent end of said innerconduitmemenga ed" with said housing whereby said elher, the oppositeend of said element enbow is maintained in engagement with said gaginsaid partitionat the aperture therein, partition, "and a 'valve withinthe chamberthrea ed means engaged with the housing opposite said elbowfor controlling the flow structure and said connection element where- 40throulgh the elbow. by the latter is maintained in engagement 3. n awater heater, a suitablehousing, with said partition, and a valve withinthe an apertured artition dividing the same chamber opposite saidconnection element into twocham inner and outer conduit for controllinthe flow through the latter. members terminating at one end within saidSigned at hicago, county of Cook and 45 housing and communicating, rese'ctively, State of Illinois this 3d day of November, with saidchambers, an elbow coup 'ng con- 1922. necting the inner conduit memberwith its JOHN EDWARD ERCANBRACK. respective chamber through the a erturein Witness: said partition; said housing provi ed with a FLORENCEMrronnrm.

